1. To carry out mackerel egg survey (ICES Triennial Survey), on the western shelf and shelf edge in the area from 50oN to 60o N using the Gulf VII plankton sampler.

2. To collect adult samples of mackerel and horse mackerel, by trawling, for atresia and fecundity analysis.

Narrative

Scotia sailed from Aberdeen at 1200 on the 3 April and proceeded to an area east of Peterhead to perform calibrations on the sampler flowmeters. Scotia then proceeded northwards and arrived at the first station (59 45N, 5 15W) at approximately 1000 on the 4 April to commence the survey. Survey stations at 30'E/W intervals, on transects separated by one degree of latitude, were conducted successfully during the outbound survey run until on the 10 April the Scotia arrived in Killybegs for the midcruise break at which point Iain Gibb joined the vessel. On the afternoon of the 11 April Scotia resumed the survey continuing south using the same transect spacing and sampling intervals as before until reaching the southern survey boundary at 50°45N. Because of the large size of the survey area comprehensive coverage of the return leg of the survey was not going to be possible. Consequently Scotia interlaced back north on the return leg using alternate transects to those covered on the first outbound leg targeting areas of high abundance as well as firming up boundary coverage missed during the outbound leg of the survey. The survey was completed east of Cape Wrath by 1000 on Sunday 22 April and Scotia made for Aberdeen, docking in the early hours of Monday 23 April.